Salesman sentenced for unauthorised investment scheme

A salesman has been sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment for his involvement in operating an unauthorised collective scheme.

Adam Hawkins was convicted at Southwark Crown Court on May 29 for his part in the scheme which operated through three land banking companies and cost over 100 investors at least £4 million.

Hawkins, who primarily worked as a salesman, was involved in the management of the three land banking companies Plott UK, European Property Investments (UK) Ltd and Stirling Alexander Limited.

Seven other defendants were handed various sentences in earlier hearings.

Scott Crawley, Dale Walker, Daniel Forsyth, Brendan Daley, Aaron Petrou, Ross Peters, and Ricky Mitchie, were all convicted as part of Operation Cotton, one of the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) largest ever investigations and prosecutions.

“This investigation and prosecution by the FCA has led to immediate custodial sentences for eight people totalling 32 years and nine months, showing how seriously the courts view this kind of offending. This prosecution demonstrates that we will not shy away from taking firm and decisive action to protect consumers and the integrity of the financial services industry, as well as holding individuals and companies to account for illegal investment activities,” said Georgina Philippou, acting director of enforcement and market oversight at the FCA.

In respect of Mr Hawkins, Judge Leonard QC said: “Two days before you started at Plott you were arrested for a very similar matter. You came to Plott with your eyes wide open. Rather than running a mile from the activities of Plott, you endorsed their fraudulent activities and worked hard to achieve their fraudulent aims.”